noun
- Microscopic channels that connect the cytoplasm of adjacent plant cells, allowing transport of molecules and communication between cells.
Usage: plural of plasmodesma; biology/botany term; also called plasmodesmata in some contexts
Examples
- Plasmodesmata enable plants to transport sugars and other nutrients between neighboring cells.
- The structure of plasmodesmata allows for both passive and active transport of molecules.
- Plant viruses can spread through plasmodesmata from one cell to another.
- Plasmodesmata are lined with a membrane called the desmotubule.
- Scientists study plasmodesmata to understand how plants regulate cell-to-cell communication.